Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime Releases its 2011-2012 Annual Report in its Fifth Successful Year of Operation

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 12, 2013) - The Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime (OFOVC) today released its 2011-2012 Annual Report, outlining the recommendations, key achievements and activities of the Office in its work to assist victims of crime in Canada.

"2011-2012 was an important year for our Office as we focused on shifting the dialogue in Canada from the focus on offenders towards the needs and treatment of victims of crime," said Sue O'Sullivan, Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime. "To drive that change we launched our special report, Shifting the Conversation, which has spurred some excellent dialogue both with the Government and with our stakeholders. We continue to urge the Government to adopt the recommendations in the report and to take the opportunity to address the issues we raised in their recently announced Victims Bill of Rights."

Throughout the year, the Ombudsman made a number of recommendations to federal government departments, Parliamentary Committees and to the Ministers of Justice and Public Safety, including recommendations related to:

sections of Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act that pertain specifically to the treatment of victims;

the long-gun registry;

better meeting the needs of victims who attend parole hearings; and

notifying victims of the deportation status of the offender who harmed them.

"We will continue to monitor these issues and engage stakeholders to ensure that the needs of victims of crime are met," said Ms. O'Sullivan. "Our Office is committed to ensuring that victims of crime are heard, respected, considered and included."

The OFOVC helps victims to address their needs, promotes their interests and makes recommendations to the federal government on issues that negatively impact victims.